In Memoriam: Pierre Bocti and Alan Wheable: TEI mourns the passing of two long-time Canadian members, Pierre Bocti and Alan E. Wheable. (Tax Executives Institute)

• Date: 01 March 2024
• Author: Alicandri, Vincent,Penney, David

Pierre Bocti

Pierre Bocti passed away on January 14. Pierre was a member of TEI for over forty years. During that time, he was very active in TEI, rising to serve as the 1996-1997 president of the Toronto Chapter. He was an active member of the Canadian Commodity Tax Committee for more than twenty years, serving as the committee's chair from 1994 through 1997. Pierre held many other positions at TEI, including being an active member of the Canadian Income Tax Committee for more than twenty years, serving as the Institute's 1997-1998 Toronto Chapter representative, serving as Region 1's (Canada) vice president and on TBI's Executive Committee in 1998-1999, and serving terms as a member of the US International Tax Committee, EDP Committee, and Communications Committee. In 1997, Pierre represented TEI before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, urging adoption of the Harmonized Sales Tax in the Maritime Provinces. He was also persuasive in his public support of Revenue Canada's transparency initiatives in the 1990s, which reflected well on TEI.

Pierre contributed substantially to the Institute's educational mission, serving frequently as a member or moderator at the Annual Canadian Tax Conference. In addition, Pierre organized and chaired the Institute's Canadian Tax Courses in 1995, 2006, and 2012.

Pierre was recognized for his tax career contributions and accomplishments in 2013 as the proud recipient of the TEI President's Award.

Without question, Pierre's greatest strength was his ability to network effectively, especially at the political and senior government official level. As president of the Toronto Chapter, he was able to engage Jean Chretien, then prime minister of Canada, in a personal conversation regarding tax harmonization. Pierre was a long-time resident of Markham, Ontario, and is a former president of the Markham Unionville Liberal riding association. He has been the official agent for John McCallum, a former liberal member of Parliament, and a federal cabinet minister. Needless to say, Pierre was actively immersed in politics.

Pierre retired from his position as vice president of tax at Hewlett-Packard (Canada) in 2013.

Dan Goff, corporate vice president, worldwide tax and customs, at Microsoft, but previously at Hewlett-Packard in the United States, said about Pierre:

Pierre was one of my first direct reports and was a joy to work with
                a pleasure to know, and taught me so much about what it meant to be a
                manager. Pierre was not only a great worker, but also a great person
                He always had a smile on his face

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